G-7 countries to skip Russian summit

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — President Barack Obama and leaders of the biggest Western economies on Monday suspended Russia from the Group of Eight, in a yet another bid to punish President Vladimir Putin for annexing part of Ukraine.

The G-7 countries will now meet in Brussels rather than attend the planned G-8 summit in Sochi.

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The announcement, which came after an emergency meeting on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit, had been expected since Russia sent troops into Crimea three weeks ago. The leaders are trying to isolate Russia politically and economically, but the suspension also aimed to bruise Putin’s ego. He cares about Russia’s prestige and standing on the world stage, administration officials said, so his exclusion from the group should sting.

“This Group came together because of shared beliefs and shared responsibilities,” the leaders said in a joint statement. “Russia’s actions in recent weeks are not consistent with them.”

The statement was signed by the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Earlier in the day, deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said the decision about Russia’s status in the group was up to the leaders, but he hinted strongly that Obama would lobby the leaders to move in that direction.

“Clearly we believe there is no reason for the G-7 countries to engage with Russia going forward based on its behavior,” Rhodes said.

The group — the traditional G-8 economic group minus Russia — wrote in the statement that Russia could face further sanctions.

“Today, we reaffirm that Russia’s actions will have significant consequences,” the statement read. “This clear violation of international law is a serious challenge to the rule of law around the world and should be a concern for all nations. …We remain ready to intensify actions including coordinated sectoral sanctions that will have an increasingly significant impact on the Russian economy, if Russia continues to escalate this situation.”

The leaders encouraged Russia to take steps to pull back back from Ukraine.

“Russia has a clear choice to make. Diplomatic avenues to de-escalate the situation remain open, and we encourage the Russian Government to take them,” the statement read. “Russia must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, begin discussions with the Government of Ukraine, and avail itself of offers of international mediation and monitoring to address any legitimate concerns.”

After arriving Monday in the Netherlands, Obama said that Europe and the U.S. are “united” on Ukraine, kicking off a series of talks with foreign leaders this week aimed at exerting pressure on Russia.

Obama spoke briefly to the press with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and later met with President Xi Jinping of China at the U.S. ambassador’s residence.

“We obviously spent a considerable amount of time on the situation in Ukraine,” Obama said after he and Rutte toured the renowned history and art museum. “Europe and America are united in our support of the Ukrainian government and Ukrainian people. We are united in imposing a cost on Russia for its actions so far.”

Obama said sanctions so far will work to inflict harm on Russia’s economy.

“Prime Minister Rutte rightly pointed out yesterday the growing sanctions would bring significant consequences to the Russian economy, and I’ll be meeting with my fellow G-7 leaders later today and will continue to coordinate closely with the Netherlands and our European partners as we go forward,” Obama said.

Obama opened a week-long trip that will take him through Europe before ending in Saudi Arabia. The scheduled trip, during which Obama will talk nuclear security at a global forum and meet with Pope Francis, comes amid mounting pressure on the president to demonstrate strength with America’s European allies, who are seen as key to pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.

Before meeting privately with Xi, Obama said they would discuss the de-nuclearization of North Korea, climate change, and Ukraine.

Obama said their countries’ relationship was strong enough to focus on shared interests and to allow the leaders to “work through frictions that exist in our relations around issues like human rights, in dealing with maritime issues in the South China Sea and the Pacific region, in a way that is constructive and hopefully will lead to resolutions … and solutions for all parties.”

Xi thanked Obama for expressing sympathy over the missing Malaysia Air jet and for U.S. help in the search. He said he enjoyed meeting first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters before departing for The Hague. Xi drew laughs when he said Michelle Obama asked him to “express her best regards” to the president when he sees him.

Earlier, the president and Rutte delivered their comments in front of one of the most famous paintings in the museum, Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn’s “The Night Watch.”

“Of all the press conferences I’ve done, this is easily the most impressive backdrop that I’ve had to a press conference,” Obama said.

He even tipped to his art history education, saying “I’m proud to be with some of the Dutch masters who I studied in school.”